Nintendo has already made its first foray into paid downloadable content with content packs for its Japan-only photo editing app Tobidasu Print Club Kiradeco Revolution.

But paid downloadable content (DLC) is now starting to arrive for 3DS retail games for the first time.

Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata has confirmed that Fire Emblem: Awakening will receive DLC in the form of new episodes with new maps.

The game will arrived in Japan on 19 April, and the DLC will be available on the same day. Though initially free, Nintendo will charge for the DLC from the start of June.

The first trickles

However, Fire Emblem isn't the first piece of paid DLC for a 3DS retail game.

That honour goes to Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, the rhythm-RPG hybrid from Square Enix; again currently only available in Japan.

The game launched on 16 February, with additional paid music tracks available from release.

[source: Andriasang]